Friday, November 6, 2009

A Robot - or a Teacher?

Yes, all the teachers follow a script and use the same process, but I'm glad to report that one of our new ones has what is to me the spark of a "teacher." The other teachers basically present - and then test. They may be nice, or funny, or clear; they may write beautifully on the blackboard; they may have great diction and the ability to keep their oral speech more or less within our vocabulary level - but when they start the "go around the room" Q/A check, it is the same for everyone. Teacher asks; student either answers or squirms. Student gets nervous as his/her turn approaches; student breathes a sigh of relief (and probably stops listening) after his/her turn has passed. If student can't answer, teacher repeats question; eventually, if this goes on long enough, teacher gives the answer and student repeats. Student may not understand the answer, but his/her turn is blessedly over.

But this new teacher....actually teaches during Q/A. She listens to the student's effort. If the student has trouble she breaks down the question into parts. She writes a word or two on the board, giving the student a visual hint and time to collect his/her thoughts. If needed, more words go on the board. More hints are given. The student is not left floundering; instead, the student is patiently lead to the answer. The teacher uses the Q/A to figure out what the student doesn't doesn't understand and targets that. Wow! This is what it means to teach the student, not just the material. Not only do we get that moment of individual help, but the stress of the Q/A is much reduced. So simple....

This was the same teacher who broke us into groups of 3 and gave us conversation time with students from another class, and today set us up with a little team competition to practice some vocabulary - such welcome variety!
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3 comments:

  1. happyeverydayNovember 10, 2009 at 5:09 PM

    Hey, Margaret,

    Guess who's writing to you? It's me, Dongmei. I have an hour to kill before meeting my night class, so here I am reading and relishing reading your very interesting blogs.

    Yes, now you are a student, grumbling about an unsympathetic teacher and sweating over a midterm, but to me, you are first and foremost an observer, an evaluator, and a thinker, in regards to your observation of how they teach Korean to non-native speakers. Look and read all the thought-provoking blogs you posted---it is enlightening to see how you relate your learning experience with your teaching. It may be too soon yet to ask, but so far what teaching strategies being employed in Korea, in your language school, do you think you will likely use to our ESL students after you come back?

    This is not an assignment that you have to finish, just something perhaps you have already thought or will think about.

    I enjoy viewing all the photos and I love all the part about eating all the good, exotic foods, a big eater that I am!!!!

    We miss you, A LOT.

    Dongmei

    ReplyDelete
  2. margaretNovember 13, 2009 at 6:53 PM

    Thank you, Dongmei, for your generous comments. Yes, I'm sure there will be some changes in my teaching, but probably subtle things rather than really changing strategies. But as you say, it's still too early to tell. I really miss you too! I've been reading about big changes coming to the SJCC district and college - wow, what a year to miss! I think these are special days for you - I will be in touch soon. Hope all is well.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Charles MontgomeryNovember 15, 2009 at 10:29 PM

    Margaret..

    Where are you reading about the old district? I had that post from Dorothy, but other than that I'm not sure how to keep up?

    ReplyDelete

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